HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has awarded authorities, firms and individuals who won the Energy and Green Economy Award. RTA presents this annual Award to strategic partners in the public sector, clients (such as suppliers, contractors and consultants), affiliated agencies & sectors, employees and students. The Award aims to show appreciation of contributions made by these parties in terms of ideas and practices for driving the Green Economy concept and saving energy.

Several directors of government departments, contracting & consultancy firms, as well as CEOs of RTA, attended the felicitation ceremony, which was held in Al Wasl Auditorium, RTA.

Al Tayer honoured the winners with Green Frond trophies. The Dubai Police General HQ won the Energy and Green Economy Award in the Strategic Partner Category, Emirates Driving School won the Best Service Provider Award, Halcrow Co. won the Best Contractor Award, and the Dubai Taxi Corporation won the Best RTA Sector/Agency Award as well as the Best Project Award.

Al Tayer also honored the winners of the Promising Environment Ambassador Award won by Areen Majid Al Sammadi and Zainab Jasim Kashwani. He also awarded the winners of the Students Category who were Amal Al Ghandi, Aysha Al Hamadi, and Mariam Al Hamadi. Haitham Abdul Razaq won the Energy and Green Economy Award (Employee Category). He also honoured members of the Judges Panel as well as the Head & Members of the Energy and Green Economy Award in the RTA.

Electric Vehicles

“The launch of the Energy and Green Economy Award conforms to the national initiative inaugurated by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in 2012 under the theme: A Green Economy for a Sustainable Development. The RTA has rolled out several initiatives concerned with the conservation of the environment such as the clean energy and green buildings. Such initiatives are based on Dubai, and the UAE’s plans in this regard in addition to consultations and sharing of knowledge in the field of public transport and project management among other vital fields,” commented Al Tayer.

“The RTA has made significant progress in transforming 50% of Dubai Taxi fleet into hybrid and electric vehicles by 2021. The plan aims to increase the number of hybrid taxicabs from 791 cars in 2016 to 4750 cars in 2021. Having about 2280 hybrid taxis in operation, the Dubai Taxi Corporation accounts for the largest share of hybrid vehicles, which currently amounts to 20% of its total fleet. RTA’s public transport modes, which include Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram, are environment-friendly (green) means, and its public buses use the cleanest fuel worldwide.